Christmas past and Christmas present will be on display for the thousands of people who will be out and about for FreeportUSA’s three-day Sparkle Celebration on the first weekend in December.
Old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon rides through the village from 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, children visiting Santa and a journey on a “Polar Express” train all are emblematic of Christmas past. The present will manifest itself everywhere, with intricate evening musical light shows known as Northern Lights on the L.L. Bean Christmas tree and the Parade of Lights that opens the celebration at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. And Freeport also has its “Talking Christmas Tree” – something Christmas trees couldn’t do in the old days – making children merry on the corner of Main and Bow streets.
L.L. Bean spokesman Mac McKeever took note of the technology needed to put on the modern aspects of Sparkle.
“There will be thousands and thousands of lights swirling about the campus during our musical holiday light show,” McKeever said. “The technology that goes on behind the scenes is remarkable, considering the orchestration of the holiday music, the spiraling visual effects and the dazzling lights.”
The tree is a large Douglas fir that was donated to L.L. Bean “by a lovely family in Pownal,” McKeever said. It was planted on the family’s property some 40 years ago, and is more than 50 feet tall.
“Our Northern Lights celebration will also offer more traditional Christmas activities, such as old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, choral music and more, so our event is an interesting blend of technology meeting tradition,” McKeever said.
As Friday’s Parade of Lights proceeds through town, Santa will bring Freeport’s Talking Christmas Tree to life.
“The parade is always a big draw,” said Kelly Edwards, executive director of FreeportUSA. “Then Santa visits with the kids. That’s such a sweet thing to watch. The looks of babies sitting with Santa is just adorable.”
Edwards credited Emily Marquis, event coordinator for Sparkle Celebration, and Sue Granholm, FreeportUSA Information Center manager, for their efforts in organizing another Sparkle Celebration.
“It’s a lot of moving pieces and it’s a lot of collaboration,” Edwards said. “I just strongly support their focus and their efforts to market the community.”
Robin Baron plays Santa Claus this weekend for the Moonlight Madness Fun Run/Walk that kicks off Black Friday at midnight on Thanksgiving. He is a Santa of a different sort for Sparkle. Baron plays the role on the Sparkle Express on the Amtrak Downeaster, a children’s delight that already is sold out. At 2:30 and 3:30, Santa will make trips to Brunswick and back, while children hear a reading of the classic Christmas story “The Polar Express,” by Chris Van Allsburg.
“I’ll just be walking around dressed as Santa, talking to the kids, and someone else is doing the reading,” Baron said. “I think it’s a little fluid. We make it work. It also gives me the excuse I don’t have to lose as much weight. It’s a lot of fun. It’s just great to see the kids uplifted.”
Freeport businesses are just as happy as the kids.
“People book Sparkle at hotels years in advance,” Edwards said. “Sparkle is this phenomenal event where it’s all about family.”
As much as Sparkle is about outside and Christmas-related activities, there’s another option for holiday revelers, in the warmth and comfort of the Freeport Performing Arts Center, which is part of Freeport High School and a doable walk from L.L. Bean. Freeport Players, the town’s venerable community theater group, will present “WCPF Home Time Radio Hour” on Dec. 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. and on Dec. 6 at 2. Tickets are $15 at the door.
“This will be set entirely in the 1950s with a holiday theme,” said Elizabeth Guffey, artistic director of Freeport Players.
Guffey said that the Freeport Players get into the upbeat holiday mood of the audience.
“It’s sort of magical to be performing at a time when people are thinking holiday thoughts,” Guffey said. “People are in a good mood and this is definitely a show that if you’re not already in a good mood, it will put you in a good mood.”
Chris Plante of Davey Tree Expert Co. of Portland sets up the speakers and outfits Freeport’s Famous Talking Christmas Tree last week in front of Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern. Santa Claus will bring the tree to life following the Parade of Lights, which begins the Sparkle Celebration at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4.
Parade watchers in a previous year crowd downtown Freeport.
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